Abstract

Background

There is substantial evidence that low consumption of fruit and vegetables (FV) is
a major risk factor for many chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to assess
FV consumption and the variables that influence it among elderly individuals in Iran
aged 60 and over.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study to investigate FV intake by a randomly-selected sample
of members of elderly centers in Tehran, Iran. A multidimensional questionnaire was
used to collect data on demographic characteristics, daily consumption of FV, knowledge,
self-efficacy, social support, perceived benefits, and barriers against FV. Data were
analyzed using t-tests, one way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation, and logistic
regression.

Results

In total, 400 elderly individuals took part in the study. The mean age of the participants
was 64.07 (SD = 4.49) years, and most were female (74.5%). The mean number of FV servings
per day was 1.76 (SD = 1.15). Ninety-seven percent of participants (n = 388) did not
know the recommended intake was at least five servings of FV per day. Similarly, 88.3%
(n = 353) did not know the size of a single serving. The most frequent perceived benefits
of and barriers against FV consumption were availability and expense, respectively.
Knowledge (OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.39-0.88), perceived benefits (OR = 0.92, 95% CI =
0.88-0.96) and barriers (OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.04-1.14), self-efficacy (OR = 0.89,
95% CI = 0.83-0.95) and family support (OR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.83-0.99) were significantly
associated with fruit and vegetable consumption.

Conclusion

The findings of this study indicate that FV intake among elderly individuals in Iran
was lower than the recommended minimum of five daily servings and varied greatly with
age, marital status, educational attainment, and income level. The results also indicated
that low perceived benefits, low self-efficacy, and perceived barriers could lead
to lower consumption of FV. It seems that in order to improve FV consumption among
elderly individuals in Iran, raising awareness, improving perception of benefits and
enhancing self-efficacy regarding FV consumption should receive more attention. Indeed,
it is essential to plan health education programs and nutritional interventions for
this group of the population.